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Review: Classe Audio 70 Amplifier

Category: Amplifiers

This was purchased from fellow Audiogon Member this past summer. For all practical purposes this amp is in like new condition and came with box and manual and not a flaw to be had.

Had always wanted to try a Classe amp and had heard some very good things about the Classe brand. The Model 70 had impressed me several years ago with its musicality and that first impression remains true today. With the Model 70 Classe remained true to their doctrine that all products regardless of price must deliver the music with astounding depth and clarity. The Model 70 does that with exceptional ease. New these sold for $1,195.00 and sell now for about half that amount. Have kept their value well and continue to deliver one dynamic performance after another. This one of the very best class a/ab amplifiers I have ever owned and I have owned some of the very best in the last 47 years. Been in this hobby since 1957, so I can speak with some knowledge.

The Classe 70 is mated to a Marsh P 2000 pre-amp driving some vintage Time Window speakers and I could not be more happy with this current set up. This is in my second system,that now I am listening to more each day. In fact the Time Windows have never sounded better, the Classe does a remarkable job of extracting the best from the Time Windows.

The initial program material I listen to was Chris Botti "Night Sessions". One of the more 3 dimensional presentations I have heard. Sounded as though Chris was in the room. Next up was Earl Klugh "Sudden Burst of Energy". Another unexpected experience. Earls guitar just jump to life and if one listens closely can hear Earls finger work as he strikes the strings. Amazing definition. From there just had to try some Rock n Roll and used the venerable Santana Abraxas recording for its many instruments and tonal qualities. Once again my expectations were not disappointed. The Classe 70 can rock and deliver bass with authority that belies its power rating.

Specifications:

75 Watts stereo,high current design,sleek curved slimline chassis with dual heat sinks at rear,both regular and fully balanced operation switchable.

Frequency Response : 20Hz to 20KHz +/- 0.1 dB

Sensitivity : 900 mV in for rated output

Input Impedance : 70 K Ohms

S/N Ratio : More than 100 dB

Rated Output : 8 ohms 75 Watts Stereo

4 ohms 150 Watts Stereo

Dimensions: Gross : 22"x 19 1/2" x 10 1/2"
Net : 19" x 11 3/4" x 4 7/8"

Weight: Gross : 35 lbs
Net : 30 lbs

The Classe Model 70 will have a very long time in my second system. It does the one thing I ask all Stereo Components and that is to deliver the music with depth,clarity,detail and transparency. I does so with amazing ease.

For me this is as good as it gets for Class A/AB amplifiers. If there is better out there in this price range I have yet to hear it.

Associated gear
Marsh P 2000 Pre Amp,Sony CD Player,Denon DVD Player,DCM Time Window Speakers.

Similar products
Bryston 3B,Parasound Halo,Rega,Sim Audio,Muse,etc.
ferrari
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Ferrari, I once owned this amp too, and at the time, it was the best amp I'd had thus far. That was early in my audiophile journey however, and I was able to surpass its performance pretty quickly when I moved to a Conrad-Johnson MV-55 tubed amp. I remember the Seventy's strong suit as being bass authority for such a compact, moderately-powered amp. It handily outperformed my previous NAD 2200 in all areas, sounding much more at ease even though it was rated at 30 fewer watts.

But I could never be completely satisfied with this amp, due to its stereotypically 'solid-state' sounding 'cold' or 'hard' harmonic structures, overbearing bass relative to its darkish highs, dodgy imaging (it wandered with frequency), and residual opaqueness that prevented it from resolving fine reverberant details. When I got my C-J (though it has since been replaced, in another big upgrade, by VTL mono's), it was like breathing a sigh of relief, as everything just got much more coherently natural-sounding and open, despite its being rated at only 45 watts (this was all with Thiel CS2.2's). Piano sounded a lot more like a piano, instead of some 'electro-mechanical' reproduction of a piano. Ditto for voices. Instrumental images sounded fully integrated with their acoustic surroundings, rather than artificially detached.

But the Classe was well-built and trouble-free, and I'm guessing it would still beat many mass-market receivers around the price it goes for used in terms of fullness and body. I'll also mention that it was extraordinarily sensitive to a power cord upgrade, and wasn't nearly as listenable until I had done this (at the time, I used a Synergistic Master AC Coupler). I wouldn't call this amp truly 'high end' today, but as an inexpensive knockabout spare for use in a second system or with a subwoofer it'll serve. Obviously, you and I have a fairly divergent assessment of the Seventy's overall musicality, but even so, happy listening! :-)
bigbry
20 posts
 
I'm glad your happy with the 70.
I owned a Classe 30 pre amp that was built during the same period as the 70.It scared me away from Classe products forever.Muddy,dark,shut in with low resolution.A terrible product.Never again for Classe with me.
Happy holidays.
BE
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
FWIW, I believe that the older and generally well-regarded "DR" line from Classe, as well as many of the products they've introduced in more recent years such as the Omega line and its trickle-down descendents, were not primarily designed by the same lead engineer as was the Seventy and its kin, so Bigbry's and my conclusions about those products shouldn't, needless to say, be extrapolated to all Classe gear. The Seventy was after all - as Ferrari pointed out - somewhat of a 'budget' amp in audiophile terms. However, why this model remains fondly remembered, or is still used, by more than a few audiophiles is something of a mystery to me. I mean, Ferrari has been at this since before I was born - do we really hear things that differently? :-)
ferrari OP
617 posts
 
One only has to look at the similiar products in the review to understand where I placed the Classe 70.

By no means can the Classe 70 compete with esoteric tube gear or high end Class A output amps such as Pass Labs,Threshold/Forte. Nor can it compete with the Classe DR line.

But for what it is I find it is one of the true bargains of high end. The Classe 70 has in recent times become somewhat of a cult item such as the NAD 3020 and others that have held the test of time.

Few of us will ever own FM Acoustic gear. I just cannot justify $30,000.00 for a preamp and $50,000.00 for a Power Amp. While that gear represents the pinnacle it is just not for the mass crowd of high end. Plus most of us just do not posses the golden ear to fully appreciate.

This review was to let the budget minded among us, that this product is of merit. Two channel audio is an ever evolving process and that few of us will ever own the crowning achievement of the designers art. With that in mind this review was presented.

Many thanks to the respondents of this review, your opinions are most welcome.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Well Ferrari, you did say "for me, this is as good as it gets for class-A/AB amplifiers", which I took to mean all class-A/B amplifiers, which means the vast majority of amps on the market. That's a pretty strong endorsement, even if you limit it to the Seventy's price range, and the other amps you list probably aren't chopped liver. This makes me wonder whether I could ever be happy with relatively inexpensive solid-state sound (something I haven't attempted to survey). For the record, I bought my C-J MV-55 as a demo for about $200 less than the Seventy went for new, so I wouldn't exactly call that tubed amp "esoteric" - never mind costing as much as a luxury car, so I'm not sure where the FM Acoustic comparison comes into play. (BTW, I bought and then sold my Seventy for $450 each time, and would question spending more on this piece.) The MV-55 also has its shortcomings to be sure, though to me they're more tolerable, endearing even, than are the Seventy's. Again, I cannot see why the amp I heard and lived with would ever become a 'cult item' as you say, but as a 'starter' amp like it was for me, I suppose worse could be done for the money if you're stepping up from an NAD or Adcom. Thanks for posting the review and your gracious response to my demuring.
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